Needle-eye polishing machine



Jan. 22, 1935. STEMPELIN 1,988,818

NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1933 '7 Shgets-Sheet 1 Jwuem/bm/ BaZ Uk Stampclin Jan. 22, 1935.

R. STEMPELIN NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 H (140/0 Siam 065670 Jan. 22, 1935. R. STEMPELIN 1,988,818

NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1933 '7 sheets-sheet 3 E Wifweom Y 1 r ph Stem 005612 Jan. 22, 1935. R, TEMPEUN 1,988,818

NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1933 7 sh ets-skeet 4 P7 ljyffl.

Ralph Stompalin Jan.- 22, 1935. R. STEMPELIN NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 13, 1933 Jan. 22, 1935. R TE PEUN 1,988,818

NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 22, 1935.

R. STEMPELIN NEEDLE EYE POLISHING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1955 iii?) '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Ralph Sempe [in I 1 groups of. needles.

Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES 1,988,818 x NEEDLE-EYE POLISHING MACHINE Ralph Stempelin, Wittenberge, near Potsdam,

Germany, assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., acorporation'of New Jersey Application April 13, 1933, SerialNo. 665,895 In Germany April 29, 1932 22 Claims. (01. 51-452) f This invention relates to improvements in needle-eye polishing machines provided with needle-strung threads and in which the needles and the threads are relatively reciprocated to produce a reeving action of the threads through the needle-eyes.

The primary object of the present invention is to increase the efficiency of needle-eye polishing machines along the lines of obtaining closer uniicrmity in the quality of eye polishing of the needles strung upon the threads.

A further object of the inventionis to provide for more readily adapting a needle-eye polishing machine to meet the requirements of diiierent A still further object of the invention is to pro vide improved means for polishing the opposite ends of the eyes of needles. Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the attainment of the several objects of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof comprehends the provision of thread-drawing means for automatically replacing the worn or thinned reeving portions of the polishing threads, after;

predetermined working intervals, by pulling a length of said threads from their supply at one side of the polishing zone and winding-an equiva lent length of said threads upon a roller at the other side of the polishing zone, thereby present ing a fresh length of the threads in the polishing zone. To better meet the requirements of different groups of needles and different qualities ofeye polishing, the present improvement also comprehends the provision of means for readily changing the number of polishing strokes in a cycle of operation of the machine, for which purpose a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided with a change-speed gearing. Furthermore, the present needle-eye polishing machine is provided with improved means for relatively moving the needle-eyes and the polishing threads in direction crosswise of the lengths of said threads to thereby more efficiently polish the opposite ends of the needle eyes.

More specifically, the invention consists in the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the improved needle-eye polishing machine. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged crosssection of the needle-clamping members holding a needle. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the winding-roller end of the machine, i. e., of-the end of the machine as viewed from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, but to a larger scale and partly in section. Fig. 5 is a view on an enlarged scale and in front side clef vation of the winding-roller actuating mechanism andthread-tensioning devices as illustrat ed inFig. 1. Fig. dis a rear side elevation of the winding-roller ratchet-andmawl device. Fig. I is. a view,similar.to Fig. 5, of a modified windingroller actuating mechanism and thread-tensioningdevice. 1 Fig. 8 is adetail-viewin front elevation and on ascale enlarged from Fig. 1- of the thread-clamping and -releasing mechanism. Fig. 9 is a section of the thread-clamping'device substantially on the line 99 of Fi 8. Fig. 10

is a fragmentary view side elevation of a modification of. the mechanism illustrated in Fig- 8. Fig. 11 is a section of the modified tl lread clamping device substantially on the line 11-11 of Fig. .10. i Fig. 12 is anlevation, partly broken away and to alarger scalaof the .thread supply end of the machine as viewed from the, right inv Fig. 1. Fig. 13. represents a section substantiallyon theline 13- --13 of Fig.1, and illustratesthe followenpincontrolling device. Fig. l4-is a de-. tail endelevation andpartly in section, as viewed from the left in Fig. 13, of the follower-pin actu v ating mechanism. Fig. 15 is a detail viewin top plan of the follower-pin lever in'its operative relation to the actuator-bar. Fig. 16 is a section substantially on the line 16 -16 of Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a sectiontaken substantially-on-the. line 17-l7 of Fig. l andillustrates in top plan the. needle-clamp raising and lowering mechanism. Fig. 18 is a section taken substantially on the line 18--1 8 of Fig.- 1-.. Fig. 19 is a detail elevation on an enlarged scale, of the needle-clamp raisingand lowering cam as viewed from theside opposite to that shownin Fig.18. Fig. 20 is a section of the changeespeed gearing taken substantially on the line 20920 of Fig. 3. Fig. 21 is a detail view in side elevation of the stop cam and the stop-member cooperating therewith.

The present improvements are illustrated in the drawings and herein described as embodied in a needle-eye polishing machine of the general character of that-disclosed in the U. S. patent to W. 'I'ivendale et al., -'No. 1,884, 390, Oct. 25,1932, to which patent reference may be had for an understanding of details of, construction of the machine not directly related to the present improvements and therefore not herein described.

The needle-eye polishing machine illustrated in the drawings has spaced vertical end frames 1, 2 interconnected by lower horizontal side rails 3, 4.

The end frames are further braced intermediate their ends by tubular spacing bars 5, 6 suitably clamped. against the opposed inner faces of the end frames.

Journaled in suitable bearing brackets provided upon the end frame 1 is the main driving shaft '7 carrying fast and loose pulleys 8, 9, respectively, engageable by a suitable driving belt (not shown) A horizontally disposed belt-shipper bar 10, having belt engaging prongs 11, is slidably supported by the end frame 1 for movements parallel to the main shaft '7, said belt-shipper bar being operatively connected to an upright rock-arm 12 of which the lower end is fixed upon a short rockshaft 13 disposed transversely of the main shaft '7 and journaled in bearings provided upon the end frame 1. At its other end, the rock-shaft 13 carries another upright arm 14 having at its free end a beveled nose 15 adapted to enter a notch 16 of a stop-cam 1'7 secured upon a rotary camshaft 18, the arm 14 being urged by a spring 19 in a direction to cause the nose 15 to enter the stopcam notch 16 to an extent limited by the engagement of said arm 14 with a stop-screw 20 adjustably threaded into a stationary arm 21 rising from the bearing of the rock-shaft 13. The cam-shaft 18 is disposed horizontally transverse to the main shaft '7 and is journaled in suitable bearings provided in the end framesl and 2, said cam-shaft being driven by a change speed gearing arranged for conveniently and selectively determining the number of revolutions of the main shaft '7 for each rotation of the cam-shaft 18,'whereby the number of polishing strokes can be varied, as will hereinafter appear. 7

To this end, there is splined upon the shaft 18 (Fig. 20) a bushing 22 upon which is rotatably journaled a worm-wheel 23. Secured to a side face of said worm-wheel 23 and rotatable upon the bushing 22 is a pinion'24 in mesh with a-spurgear 25 'journaled upona stud-shaft 26 suitably fixed to a bracket 27 upon the end-frame 1. splined upon the hub of the spur-gear 25 and removably secured thereupon by a washer 28 and a bolt 28, which latter is threaded into the studshaft 26, is a spur-gear 29 in mesh with another spur-gear 30 which is splined upon the cam-shaft 18 and is removably secured thereupon by a washer 31 and a bolt 31.

The worm-wheel 23 is driven by a worm 32 upon a shaft 33 disposed horizontally transverse to the cam-shaft 18, i..e., disposed parallel to the main shaft 7, the transverseshaft 33 being journaled in suitable bearings provided upon the end frame 1. A spur-gear 34 secured upon the shaft 33 at the rear side of the machine is'driven by a pinion 35 upon the main shaft'l.

It will therefore be understood that the machine is put into operation by manually actuating the belt-shipper bar 10 in a direction to shift the driving belt toward and upon the pulley 8 and to withdraw the nose 15 from the notch 16 of the stop-cam 17. The nose 15 will now ride the peripheral face of the stop-cam 17 and after one rotation of the cam-shaft ,18 the nose again enters the cam-notch 16 under the influence of the spring 19, thereby arresting further rotation of the cam-shaft 18 simultaneously with the operation of the belt-shipper bar 10 to shift the driving belt upon the loose pulley 9. By interchanging the spur-gears 29, 30, or by the substitution therefor of gears of different ratios, the number of revolutions made by the transverse shaft 33 for each rotation of thecam-shaft 18 can be selectively determined.

The transverse shaft 33, at its opposite ends, carries crank-disks 36 and 37 connected by links 38 and 39 to upright rock-levers 40 and 41, respectively. The rock-levers 40, 41 are disposed at opposite sides of the machine, the lower ends of said levers having bearing bosses pivotally mounted upon a transverse shaft 42 rotatably journaled in the spaced arms 43 of a rocking frame 43, 44. Intermediate its ends, the frame 43, 44 is fulcrurned upon a rotary shaft 45 journaled in the side rails 3, 4, the arms 44 of said frame being connected by a counterweighted cross-bar 46. The rocking-frame cross-bar 46 is connected by a link 47 to a slide-block 48 confined to vertical movement in a guideway 49 provided in a bracket 50 rising from a rail 51 overlying and secured upon the side rails 3, 4 of the machine frame. The slide-block 48 carries a roller 52 engageable by a ca1n-plate 53 of a cam-disk 54 carried by the cam-shaft 18, said cam-plate 53 serving to positively hold the slide-block 48 in a lowered position thereof during a portion of a revolution of said cam-shaft 18, and permitting said slide-block 48 to rise to an extent limited by the engagement of the roller 52 with the hub of the cam-disk 54 during the remaining portion of the revolution of the cam-shaft 18, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear.

The rotary shaft upon which the rock-levers 40, 41 are pivotally mounted carries a sprocketwheel 55 connected by a chain 56 toa sprocketwheel 57 carried by the rotary shaft 45 upon which'the rocking frame 43, 44 is fulcrumed. The shaft 45 has'a worm-wheel 58 driven by a worm 59 upon one end of an inclined shaft 60 of which the opposite end carries a bevel-gear 61 in mesh with a bevel-gear 62 upon the transverse shaft 33. A suitable bearing is provided upon the end frame 1 for one end of the inclined shaft 60 and the opposite end of said shaft is journaled in a bearing 63 supported by the shaft 45.

Pivotally mounted upon the upper ends of the rock-levers 40, 41 is the needle-clamp 64 which may be of any suitable or well known construction, said rock-levers 4Q, 41 serving to carry the needle-clamp back and forth along polishing threads, as 65. Duringthe referred to movements of the needle-clamp 64, it is additionally swung about its pivotal support upon the rocklevers 40, 41, and this swinging movement of the needle-clamp is in the present instance derived from a rack-bar 66 of which the lower end 7 is adjustably connected to a crank-disk 67 carried by the shaft 42 upon which the rock-levers 40, 41 are mounted. The details of construction of the needle-clamp and the actuating connections of the rack-bar 66 therewith are unimportant to a comprehension of the present invention and are therefore not herein described, it being understood that by the movements of the rocklevers 40, 41, the needles, as N, of a group to be eye polished and fixed in the clamp 64, are reciprocated along the threads in a zone to produce a reeving of the threads through the needleeyes. Also, that the ends of the needle-eyes are rounded by the rocking movements of the needleclamp as in the Tivendale et a1. Patent No. 1,884,390, before mentioned. It is to be noted, however, that in the present machine, as above described, the pivotal axis 42 of the rock-levers 40, 41, is alternately raised and lowered during a polishing operation by the cam 53, whereby the opposite ends of the needle-eyes will be more effectively polished.

The polishing thread supply comprises tenframe 2. The springs 99 function through'the 69 of a bobbin-board 70 removably secured inany suitable manner upon a framework '71 supported by the end frame 2.

In the formof construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 12 of the drawings, the threads are led from the bobbins 68 through slots '72 in the toothed upper edge of an edgewise vertically disposed thread-separating plate '73 secured upon an angle-bracket '74 upon the thread-delivery end of the bobbin-board. From the plate '73, the threads are passed through slots or interdental spaces '75 in the lower edges of a series of alined toothed plates '76 depending from the free end of an overhanging gate '77 of which the opposite end has a pivotal support '78 upon the framework '71. The threads then pass through suitable slots in the toothed upper edge of another bobbinboard plate 79 and through the usual slotted needle-row separating plates 80 to the opposite end of the machine where the threads are anchored as will be hereinafter described.

In order to hold the threads against inadvertent withdrawal from the bobbins 68, in the form of construction illustrated more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9, there is provided thread-clamping means comprising alined springs 81 adapted to nip the threads against the side face of the toothed movable plates 76. The springs 81 are carried by a tiltable rail 82 provided lengthwise thereof along one edge'of its lower face with a rounded rib 83 seated in a correspondingly shaped groove formed in the upper face of the angle-bracket '74, said rail being sooketed in one side face to receive a plurality of springs, as 85, which tend to rock the rail in a direction to carry the springs 81 toward the plate '73 and thereby provide clearance for downward movement of the plates '76 from a raised position of the gate '77. In a downward movement of the plates '76, they engage the upper face of the rail 82 at one side of the vertical plane of its axis, whereby the rail is rocked or tilted to effect nipping of the threads against the side face of the plates '76 by the springs 81. i

In a modification of the described threadclaniping means, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, a plurality of plates86 are supported for individual vertical movement of a limited extent upon a plate-holder 8'7 mounted upon the gate '77, said plates 86 having their offset lower ends 88 engaged by springs 89 disposed in vertical recesses provided in the plate-holder 87, whereby the plates 86 are yieldingly urged downwardly. Depending from each of the plates 86 is a series of bent springs 90 adapted to nip the polishing threads against an anvil 91 disposed between thread-separating members 92, 93, upon the bobbin-board '70, said members 92, 93 having their upper edges toothed to separate the threads similarly to the plates 73, '79 of Fig. '7.

During a predetermined number of polishing strokes of the needle-clamp, the gate '77 is held in its lowered or thread-nipping position and is then raised to release the threads so that a fresh length of the threads may be pulled from the bobbins 68. To this end, links 94 are pivotally connected to the gate '77 at the front and rear sides of the machine, the lower ends of said links being pivotally connected to crank-arms 95 secured upon a rock-shaft 9'7 journaled in the frame-work 71. Also secured upon said rockshaft 9'7 are a pair of arms 98 to which are connected coil springs 99 adjustably anchored by bolts 100 to brackets 2 supported by the end sioned bobbins 68 mounted upon upstanding pinsdescribed connections to yieldingly hold the gate '77 in its lowered, thread-clamping position which is adjustably-determined by the engagement of the bellcrank lever arm 96 with an adjustable stop-screw 101 upon the framework '71.

In order to raise the gate 7'7 at a predetermined time during the operation of the machine and thereby release the polishing threads, the front crank-arm 95 is constructed as one arm of a bellcrank lever 95, 96, of which the other arm 96 is pivotally connected to one end of a horizontally disposed actuator-bar 102. In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the opposite end of said actuatorbar 102 is operatively connected to an arm 103 of a two armed lever 103-, 104 mounted for rock ing movements upon the hub 105 (Figs. 4 and 5) of a ratchet-wheel 106 keyed to a horizontally disposed shaft 107. The shaft 107 is rotatably journaled in bearings provided upon a bracket 108 supported by the end frame 1, said shaft carrying a Winding roller 109 of a thread-drawing means and upon which roller the polishing threads drawn from the bobbins are wound. Piv otally secured upon the arm 104 of the lever 103. 104, is a pawl 110 urged by a spring 111, anchored to the arm 103 of the lever, to engage the ratchetwheel 106, whereby said ratchet-wheel is rotated in a continuous direction upon actuation of the lever 103, 104. Retrograde rotation of he ratchet-wheel 106 is prevented by a backstop pawl 112 pivotally mounted uponthe frame bracket 108 and urged by a spring 118 to engage the ratchet-wheel.

Tensioning means for the individual threads is preferably interposed between the winding roller 109 and the needle-clamp to maintain the several threads sufficiently taut for the polishing operation. In the form of construction illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1, 4. and 5 of the drawings, a plurality of angle-levers 114, 115 are pivotally mounted adjacent each other "upon the bracket 108, said levers having a common pivotal axis and being capable of rocking movements independently of'each other. Connected to each of the arms 115 of said levers are tensioning springs 116 anchored to a spring tension adjusting spindle 117 releasably clamped in bearin s provided in brackets 118 supported by the end frame 1.

The arms 114 of the angle-levers 11 i, 115 are pivotally connected to horizontally disposed slidebars 119 confined to endwise movements in suitable guidewaysprovided upon theframe bracket 108, said slide-bars each carrying a grooved roller 120 about which a polishing thread passes to the winding roller 109. The threadsare individually directed to the tensioning rollers 120 by an edgewisevert ically disposed thread separating plate 121, of which the upper edge is slotted or toothed to receive the threads.

In order to predetermine th'e polishing-thread length wound upon the roller 109 for a definite reciprocation of the'actuator-bar 102, there is adjustably securedupo'n the bracket 108 a cam plate 122 having a' cam-edge 123 engaged by a roller-stud 124 upon-the ratchet-wheel actuating pawl 110, whereby the effective stroke of said pawl may be varied.

In the modified thread winding and tensioning device illustratedin- Fig. '7 of thedrawings, the actuator-bar 102 is connected to an arm 125 of a plural-armed lever 125,126 which is also fulcrumed upon the hubof a ratchet-wheel 12'7 rotatable with a windingrollercarrying shaft 128 journaled in a bracket 129 upon the end-frame 1. The arm 126 of the lever pivotally carries a pawl 130 adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel 127 under the control of a cam-plate 131 adjustably secured upon the bracket 129, the pawl 130 being urged to engage the ratchet-wheel by a spring 132 anchored to another arm 133 of the lever. The ratchet-wheel is restrained against retrograde rotation by a spring-pressed pawl 134 pivotally mounted upon the frame-bracket 129. Piv otally mounted adjacent each other upon the bracket 129 for movements about a common axis 135 are a plurality of levers 136, 137. curving partially about the winding roller, the arms 136 of said levers each carrying a grooved roller 138 receiving a polishing thread directed thereto by the usual thread-separating plate 139 upon the bracket 129. The other arms 137 of said levers are each connected by a tension-spring 140 to a tension-adjusting bar 141 mounted for turning movements in bearing brackets, as 142, upon the end frame 1. The bar 141 is secured in adjusted position by set-screws, as 143. Downward movement of the arms 137 of the thread-tensioning levers, responsive to the springs 140, are limited by an abutment plate 144 secured, and preferably for vertical adjustment, to the frame bracket 129 in any suitable manner to underlie the lever-arms 137. In order to insure that the tensioning levers 136, 137 are correctly positioned during the polishing operation, and more particularly after operation of the ratchet-wheel for winding up a length of thread, the arm 1330f the ratchetwheel actuating lever is connected by a link 145 to a crank-arm 146 of a horizontally disposed rock-shaft 147 journaled in the frame bracket 129. Carried by the rock-shaft 147 is a bufferrail 148 which, during a turning movement of the rock-shaft 147, engages the arms 136 of the tensioning levers when any of the'latter are displaced from operative position and positively returns said levers into their proper position for the polishing operation.

At a predetermined time in the operation of the machine, the actuator-bar 102 is reciprocated endwise to effect release of the polishing thread supply and to draw therefrom a predetermined length of the threads which are wound upon the roller at the opposite end of the machine. For this purpose, there is secured upon said actuatorbar, intermediate the ends thereof, a bracket 149 having spaced ears 150 carrying a fulcrum-pin 151 for one arm of an angular lever 152. The other arm of the angular lever 152 carries a follower-pin 153 which, in its operative position, extends into the path of movement of the upper arm 154 of a rock-lever 154, 155, fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a bracket 156 extending from the end frame 1, said bracket being additionally supported by a brace 157 suitably clamped upon the frame spacing bar 5. The lower arm of the rock-lever has a guide-slot 158 extending longitudinally of the arm, in which guide-slot is disposed a slide-block 159 pivotally carried by a clamp 160 secured upon the link 38 which is actuated by the crank-disk 36. It will therefore be understood that the rock-lever 154, 155 is constantly vibrated during the operation of the machine, and that said lever becomes effective to reciprocate the actuator-bar 102 only when the follower-pin 153 is disposed in the path of movement of the lever-arm 154.

Connected to the follower-pin carrying anglelever 152, by a pivot-bolt 161 substantiallyparallel to the fulcrum-pin 151 of said angle-lever, is

one end of a link 162 of which the opposite end is apertured transversely of the pivot-bolt 161 to receive a pivot-bolt 163 at one end of a connecting rod 164. The other end of the connecting rod 164 is slidingly disposed in a pivotsleeve 165 having at its opposite sides horizontally disposed trunnions 166 pivotally supported by a forked bracket 167. Embracing the connecting rod 164 is a coil spring 168 reacting against the pivot-sleeve 165 and a collar 169 secured upon the connecting rod 164, the latter being confined in the pivot-sleeve 165 by a suitable abutment 170 upon'the end of the connecting rod.

The forked bracket 167 is connected by a vertically disposed pivot-stud 171 to the offset upper endof one arm 172 of a bellcrank lever 172, 173 fulcrumed upon a pivot-bolt 174 of a fixed bracket 175. The bracket 175 is supported by a hangerarm 176 clamped upon the frame spacing bar 5 and is additionally supported by a bracket-extension 177 embracing the cam-shaft 18. Connected to the arm 173 of the bellcrank lever is a spring 178 anchored to the machine frame, the lever-arm 172 carrying a cam-follower 179 which under the action of the spring 178 is urged to enter a notch 180 of-a cam upon the cam-shaft 18, said cam comprising juxtaposed disks 181, 182 having their peripheries partly cut away to form the notch 180. The cam disks 181, 182 are preferably secured to each other for relative circular adjustment, whereby the length of the notch 180 may be varied.

The cam-follower 179, during the major portion of the operation of the machine, is held out of the cam-notch 180 by the peripheries of the cam-disks 181, 182, and accordingly the follower-pin 153 normally occupies the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, wherein it is out of the path of movement of the vibrating lever-arm 154. As the camshaft 18 makes one complete rotation before the machine is brought to rest, the cam-follower 179 enters the cam notch 180 under the action of the spring 178 and at a predetermined time dependent upon the relative adjustment of the cam-disks 181, 182. The movement of the leverarm 172 toward the cam 181, 182 effects compression of the coil-spring 168 to an extent sufiicient to yieldingly shift the connecting rod 164 endwise toward the actuator-bar 102, thus rocking the lever 152 about its fulcrum-axis 151 and bringing the follower-pin 153 into the path of movement of the vibrating rock-lever arm 154 as shown in full lines in Fig. 13 of the drawings. The provision of the spring 168 in the follower-pin actuating connections obviously minimizes lateral stress upon the actuator-bar 102 when the connecting rod 164 is shifted toward said actuator-bar. Furthermore, by permitting the con necting rod 164 to yield endwise, the spring 168 obviates breakage of parts in any untimely movement of the follower-pin against a side face of the lever-arm 154. As the follower-pin 153 is mounted upon the actuator-bar 102, the latter is shifted endwise when the lever-arm 154 engages said follower-pin, the pivotal connections in the follower-pin cam actuated mechanism permitting the requisite lateral movement of the follower-pin under the action of the lever-arm 154. It will be understood that the follower-pin 153 is always shifted into its operative position so as to be engaged by the lever-arm 154 in a direction to reciprocate the actuator-bar 102 toward the winding roller end of the machine and against the action of the springs 99 which serve to return the actuator-bar during the return movement of the lever-arm 154. The resultant rocking movements imparted to the rock-levers 95, 96 and 103, 104 first effects release of the thread-clamping means at the thread-supply end of the machine and then the winding upon the roller 109 of the length of thread pulled from the supply by the rotated roller, followed by'a reclamping of the supply threads. It will be understood that the threads are pulled by the roller 109 through the needles while held by the needle-clamp 64.

Dependent upon the length of the cam-notch 180, the follower-pin 153 may remain in the path of movement of the lever-arm 154 during a plurality of vibratory movements of said lever-arm, and consequently short lengths of the polishing threads may be repeatedly drawn from the supply, during a predetermined period in the polishing operation, until the requisite length of fresh threads is positioned in the polishing zone. As usual, an abrasive may be applied to the polishing threads either manually or automatically in any suitable or well known manner. a

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing threadsupply, thread drawing means to which thread extends from said thread supply, a needle-clamp disposed between said thread supply and thread drawing means for holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and thread a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the thread through the needle-eye, and mechanism normally ineffective during a plurality of successive relative reciprocations of the needle-clamp and thread, and initially brought into effective action at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine for actuating said th'readdrawing means to present in said zone a fresh length of polishing thread.

2. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing threadisupply, thread drawing means to which thread extends from said thread supply, a needle-clamp disposed between said thread supply and thread drawing means for holding a needle strung upon; said thread, means for relatively moving the needleclamp and thread in a zone to produce a reevihg action of the thread through the needle-eye, holding means normally preventing pulling the thread from its supply, and means effective during'the operation of the machine for automatically releasing said holding means and for actuating'said thread drawing means to present in said; zone a fresh length of polishing thread.

3. In a machine for polishing the eyes ofnee"- dles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means to which thread extends from said thread supply, a needle-clamp disposed between said thread supply and thread drawing means for holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating the needle-clamp and thread a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the thread through the needle-eye, holding means normally preventing pulling the thread from its supply, and mechanism initially brought into effective action at a predetermined time, after a plurality of complete relative reciprocations of the needle-clamp and thread, for releasing said holding means and for actuating said thread drawing means to present in said zone a fresh length of polishing thread.

4. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing. means. to which threadextends from said thread supply, a needle clamp disposed between said thread supply and-thread drawing means for holding a; needle strung upon said thread, actuating mechanism for relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and threadaplurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the threadthrough thQ'HGGdIGr-BYG, automatically acting means for bringing said machine to rest after a predetermined period of operation, and means effective during a part only of the operation of the machine for actuating said thread drawing means to ,present in said zone a fresh length of polishing thread; 7 v

5. Ina machine forpolishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means towhich thread extends from said thread supply, a needle-clamp disposed between said thread supply and thread drawing means for holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and thread a plurality of times'in azone to produce, a ,reevi-ng, action of the thread through the needle-:eye, mechanism for actuating said thread drawingg means to present in said zone afresh length of, polishing thread drawn from said supply, and;adjustable means for selectively predetermining the length of polishing thread presented in said zone..

- 6; In a;machine forpolishing the eyes of needles, incombination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means *to which thread. extends from said thread supply, a needle-clamp disposed between said threadsupply and thread drawing means for holding .a needle strung upon said thread,'means' for-relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and thread a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving actionof the thread through the needle-eye, mechanism normally ineffective during'a plurality of successive relative reciprocations ofv the needle-clamp and thread,

and brought into effective action at a predeter mined time in the operationof the machine-for repeatedly actuating. said thread drawing means to present in said zone fresh lengths of polishing thread. T T a '7. Ina machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means'ito which thread extends from said thread supply, a needle clamp for holding a needlestrungupon saidthread, means-for relatively reciprocatingsaid needle-clamp and thread aplurality of times' in a zone to produce a reevingaction'of the thread through the? nee die-eye; a vibratory-actuating lever, a follower operatively connected with said thread drawing means adapted to be 'shifted into and out of the path of movementiof said actuating lever, and automatically actuated means controlling the shifting of said follower into the-path of movement of said lever to thereby actuate said thread drawing means at. a predetermined time in the operation of thernachine to present in said zone a fresh lengthof polishingthread; 8. In a machine-for polishing-theeyes of needles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means for pulling thread from said thread supply, a. needle-clampfor holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relaconnected with saidthread drawing means adapt- 7 ed to be'shiftedintoand-out of the path of movement of 'said actuating lever, and means for automatically controlling the shifting of said follower into the path of movement of said lever including" an actuating member adjustable to selectively predetermine the shifting time of said followerf' 9."In a machine for-polishing the eyes of needles,--in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means for-pulling thread from said thread supply, 'a needle-clamp for holding a needle'strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating -saidneedle-clamp and thread'a' plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the thread through the needleeye, areciprocatory actuator-bar-operatively connected-tosaid thread drawing means, a vibratory actuating lever, a follower-mounted upon said actuator-ba'rand shiftable into and out of the path of movement-of said actuating lever, and cam-actuated means forcontrollingthe shifting of said follower intothe path of movement of saidlever,

10. In a machine for polishingthe eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing-thread supply, thread drawing means for pulling thread from said thread supply, a needle-clamp for holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating-"said needle-clamp I and thread a plurality of timesin awzone to produce a reeving action of the threadthrough the needle-eye, a reciprocatoryactuator-bar operatively connected tosaid thread drawing means, a vibratory actuating lever, "a follower pivotally mounted upon said actuator-bar and normally positioned out of the path of movement of said actuating lever, and cam-controlled means including a yielding connection withsaid follower for shifting the follower into the'path of movementof said lever.

11. In a machine forapolishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a set of .bobbins, a thread-winding roller to which threads extend in substantial parallelism from said bobbins, a needle-clamp disposed between said bobbins and thread-winding roller for holding needles strung upon said threads, means for relatively reciprocating the needle-clamp and threadsa plurality of times in a zone to producea reeving action of the threads through the needle-eyes, mechanism normally inefiectivelyduring a plurality of successive relativereoiprocations of the needle+ clamp and threads and brought into eifective action at a predeterminedtimeinlthe operation of the machine forrotatingsaid thread-winding roller to present in said zone 'fresh lengths of polishing threads drawn from said bobbins, and yielding means holding said-threads. under continuous tension during'the operation of the machine. I

12. In a machinefor polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a 'set of bobbins,althreadwinding roller to which threads extend. in substantial parallelism from 'said bobbins, a needleclamp disposed betweensaid bobbins and threadwinding roller for holding needles strung upon said threads, means; for relativelyreciprocating the needle-clamp and threadsaLpIurality of times inazonetoproduce: a reevingaction of the threads through theneedle-eyes, mechanism normally ineffective: during. a:plurality of successive relative. reciprocations of the needleclamp:and=,threads,. and brought into effective action at-a-predetermined time in the operation of the machine, for rotatingsaidthread-winding bobbins and needle-clamp,

rollerto present in said zone fresh lengths of polishing threads drawn from said bobbins, spring-influenced thread-tensioning levers indiviclually engaging the threads extending to said thread-winding roller, and bufier means automatically engageable with abnormally displaced thread-tensioning levers for returning said levers into normal operative position.

13. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a polishing thread supply, thread drawing means for pulling thread from said thread supply, a needle-clamp for holding a needle strung upon said thread, means for relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and the thread in a zone to produce a reeving action of the thread through the needle-eye, thread-clamping means normally preventing pulling the thread from its supply, a reciprocatory actuator-bar operatively connecting said thread drawing means and said thread clamping'means, a vibratory actuating lever, a follower mounted upon said actuator-bar and shiftable into and out of the path of movement of said actuating lever, and automatically actuated means controlling the shift+ ing of said follower into the path of movement of said lever.

, 14. In amachine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a set of bobbins, a thread-winding roller to which threads extend in substantially parallelism from said bobbins, a needle-clamp disposed between said bobbins and thread-winding roller for holding needles strung upon said threads, means for relatively reciprocating the needle-clamp and threads a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the threads through the needle-eyes, a threadseparating plate between said bobbins and needleclamp, a thread-clamping spring adapted to engage said plate to nip the threads thereagainst, means normally urging said plate and'spring into thread-nipping relationship, and means brought into effective action at a predetermined time in the operation'of the machine for relatively mov ing said plate and thread-clamping spring to thereby release said threads for withdrawal from said bobbins.

1 5. In amachine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a set of bobbins, thread drawing means for pulling threads from said bobbins, a needle-clamp disposed for holding needles strung upon said threads, means for relatively reciprocating the needle-clamp and threads a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the threads through the needle-eyes, a tiltably mounted rail, a threadseparating plate between said bobbins and needleclamp adapted to engage and thereby tilt said rail, a thread-clamping spring carried by said rail adapted to nip the threads against said platein the rail engaging position of said plate, means yieldingly urging said plateto engage said rail, and means automatically brought into efiective action during the operation of the machine for releasing said threads from said threadclamping spring.

16. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a set of bobbins, thread drawing means for pulling threads from said bobbins, a needle-clamp for holding needles strung upon said threads, means for relatively reciprocating the needle-clamp and threads a plurality of times in a zone to produce a reeving action of the threads through the needle-eyes, an anvil extending crosswise of said threads between said a spring-influenced element for normally nipping the threads against said anvil, and means automatically brought into effective action during the operation of the machine for releasing the threads from the nipping action of said element.

17. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a polishing thread extending between spaced points of said frame, a needle-clamp disposed to engage a needle strung upon said thread, a vibratory needle-clamp carrier, means for vibrating said carrier to reciprocate said needle-clamp lengthwise of said thread to thereby produce a reeving action of the thread through the needle-eye, and means for bodily displacing said carrier for said needle-clamp in a direction crosswise of said thread to thereby polish the opposite ends of the needle-eye.

18. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a polishing thread extending between spaced points of said frame, a needle-clamp disposed to engage a needle strung upon said thread, a vibratory needleclamp carrier having a movable fulcrum, means for vibrating said carrier to reciprocate said needle-clamp lengthwise of said thread to thereby produce a reeving action of the thread through the needle-eye, and means operative after a predetermined number of vibratory movements of said needle-clamp carrier for displacing the fulcrum of the carrier to thereby change the path of reciprocation of the needle-clamp.

19. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a polishing thread extending between spaced points of said frame, a rock-lever having its fulcrum-axis transverse to the length of said thread, a needle-clamp mounted upon said rock-lever in position to hold a needle strung upon said thread, a rocking frame upon which said rock-lever is fulcrumed and having its fulcrum-axis substantially parallel with the fulcrum-axis of said rock-lever, means for rocking said lever to reciprocate the needle-clamp lengthwise of said threads, and

means for rocking said frame to displace said needle-clamp in a direction crosswise of said threads.

20. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a set of threads extending in substantial parallelism between spaced points of said frame, a needle-clamp disposed to engage needles strung upon said threads, a pair of rock-levers carrying said needle-clamp, a rocking frame upon which said rock-levers are fulcrumed, means for vibrating said rock-levers to reciprocate said needle-clamp in a direction lengthwise of said threads, a rotary cam, a reciprccatory slide intermittently actuated by said cam, and an operative connection between said slide and said rocking frame to thereby displace said needle-clamp in a direction crosswise of said threads.

21. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, in combination, a frame, a set of polishing threads extending in substantial parallelism between spaced points of said frame, a needleclamp disposed to engage needles strung upon said threads, a rotary actuating shaft, mechanism driven from said shaft for relatively reciprocating said needle-clamp and threads to produce a reeving of the threads through the needle-eye, a rotary cam-shaft for controlling the rotation period of said actuating shaft, and driving connections including a change-speed gearing between said shafts.

22. In a machine for polishing the eyes of needles, incombination, a frame, a set of polishing threads extending in substantial parallelism between spaced points of said frame, a needleclamp disposed to engage needles strung upon said threads, a rotary actuating shaft, a pair of rock-levers carrying said needle-clamp, operative connections with said shaft for actuating said rock-levers, a rotary cam-shaft for controlling the rotation period of said actuating shaft, and driving connections including a change-speed gearing between said shafts.

RALPH STEMPELIN. 

